High energy Acadian music at Osprey on Aug. 11

The Osprey presents a double header of high-energy Acadian music (with a CD release) preceded by a short visit from three prominent writers on Saturday, Aug. 11, all starting at 7 pm.

The evening will feature "Musique de la Baie", an energetic, all-out evening of Acadian music and dance from the Yarmouth, Acadian, and Shelburne shores. Hear the lively sounds of mandolin, fiddle, accordion, and acoustic guitar with songs sung in French and English.

This exciting concert will see a "mélange" of great Acadian groups including Danny Doucette and The Acadians play traditional Acadian and country tunes. Les Sapins Verts play a mix of folk, traditional as well as original songs. And Shelburne’s own Killick (Pat Melanson, Alex Buchanan, Sean McClure) will play original, high-energy Acadian and celtic songs.

A brand new CD, the Musique de la Baie Complication, Vol. 2, will be released during the concert. This CD features music performed by many of the acts playing during the show.

The “Musique de la Baie” program is organized by the Yarmouth & Acadian Shores Tourism Association. It started in the year 2000 with the goal of showcasing Acadian music and culture to visitors. This program featured local musicians playing live local music in participating restaurants.

The Musique de la Baie program is a run-away success in the Clare area, having drawn nearly 40,000 audience members throughout its nine seasons. and producing its first compilation CD in 2008. The program is now asked for by name in the area by visitors and is also affectionately known as “The Kitchen Parties.”

Nominees for the 2012 Evelyn Richardson Prize for Non-Fiction, presented by the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, will read from and discuss their work on stage before the Acadian music and dance performance. This presentation starts at at 7pm. The prize has been presented annually by WFNS since 1978 to the writer of the best work of non-fiction in Atlantic Canada. This year’s nominees are Harry Thurston for The Atlantic Coast: A Natural History, Chris Benjamin for Eco –Innovators: Sustainability in Atlantic Canada and Ray McLeod for Hope for Wildlife: True Stories of Animal Rescue.

"Musique de la Baie" takes places at the Osprey Arts Centre on Saturday, Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15, $5 for youth and are available at the Whirligig Book Shop or at the door on the evening of the concert. CDs will be for sale throughout the show. The writer's presentation will take place an hour earlier at 7 p.m. with free admission.